But if you suspend reason – this is Alabama politics, after all – there are upsides to secession.

No, this is not a news flash from 1861. In case you missed it, secession was the hottest story in state politics this week.

The ball got rolling when Derrick Belcher of Chunchula filed a petition on the White House web site seeking Alabama’s withdrawal from the U.S. Others, fueled by anger over the outcome of the Nov. 6 presidential election, quickly followed.

By Wednesday, similar petitions had been filed in all 50 states, and Belcher’s petition surpassed 25,000 signatures – the threshold for getting an official response from the Obama administration.

Let’s state the obvious: Secession is a bad idea. It is prohibited under federal law, it’s unrealistic even if it was legal and history reminds us that it didn’t work out so well the last time we tried it.

As if that’s not enough, secession would also be a financial disaster. Alabama gets back about $2 for every $1 it sends to Washington, D.C., money that state government simply can’t function without.

Then, there are the practical concerns: Where will we get Bud Light? Who’s going to break the news to Mississippi? And what do I tell the reader who asked, “If Alabama secedes, will I need a passport to visit America?”

All good reasons not to leave the U.S.A. But if the big split is coming again, I want to be on the side with SEC football, good fried chicken and the guys from Duck Dynasty.

In that spirit, here are our Top 10 reasons why secession might not be so bad for Alabama:

10. We get our own dollar with Richard Shelby on it.

9. No more airport security. (Con: Guns on planes. Another con: The plane is a crop duster).